Leo daft



(No Model.) v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

- y L. DAFT.

GONDUGTOR FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

Elm-289,897. Patented Dec. 11,1883.

(.No Model .3 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' 1 L. DAIT.

CONDUCTOR FOB. ELECTRIC RAILWAY'S.

No. 289,897. Patented Dec; 11, 1883.

Nv PETERS. muxmmm twr. WalhilqinmPJl NITED STATES PATENT Orr cn- LEODAFT, or GREENVILLE, NEW JERSEY.

CONDUCTOR FOR ELECTRIC .RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 289,897, dated December11, 1883. Application filed June 14, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEO DAFT, a subject ofthe Queen of Great Britain, and a resident of Greenville, New Jersey,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Conductors for ElectricRailways, of which the following is a full, true, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of this invention is to insure continuous transmission ofenergy over an electric-railway system where the rails are used asconductors, and is especially intended to maintain such continuity whendraw-bridges, turntables, or other obstructions are required to beoperated without interrupting travel.

My invention will be readily understood from the accompanying drawings,in which similar letters refer to similar parts.

Figure 1 represents a general perspective elevation of a draw-bridgewith the connecting-rails; Fig. 2, a plan View of the same; Figs. 3, 4,and 5, detailed views of apparatus connecting the rails of thedraw-bridge with the main-line circuit.

In systems of this kind it is intended that the current shall betransmitted on the rails themselves; but my invention is not limited toconductors formed of the rails themselves, but is applicable to otherforms.

A represents a draw-bridge of any ordinary construction. D D representthe rails carrying the power from the dynamo; B B, the rails upon thedraw-bridge, and G G the main-line rails upon the opposite side of thebridge from the rails D D. The rails O O and D D are connected by asuitable cable, as shown, of such low resistance as not seriously toreduce the electric energy transmitted therethrough. By these conductorsE E, continuous metallic connection is at all times maintained, whetherthe draw be opened or closed.

It is obviously necessary, in order that a car may be impelled whileupon the draw, that a connection between the rails of the draw and themain-line rail should be made when the draw is closed. This may beaccomplished in many ways. I have shown several of them in Figs. 3, 4,and 5.

In Fig. 3, D represents the main rail; B, the draw-bridge rail. Frepresents a roller supported upon a spring, G, and adapted to roll upona platform, H, electrically connected with rail D. This platform shouldbe inclined,

so that when the bridge is closed the roller F may roll up upon it andmake an electrical con: tact between the rail B and the rail D. In Fig.4 the same arrangement is shown, excepting that the platform H moveswith the bridge, and the roller F is stationary. Two of these connectorsshould be provided, one for each rail. They may be arranged at differentheights, so as not to interfere with each other in opening or closingthe draw-bridge. In Fig. 5 another form of connector is shown.

The roller F in this case need not be supported upon a spring, but isadapted to roll up upon the spring K, which is electrically connectedwith the main rail D. In this case a flexure, L, may be provided in thespring, allowing the roller F to rest thereon when the bridge is closed.Other forms of connectors may be employed; but they should be such as toin sure certainty of connection between the rails B B and the rails D Dwhen the draw-bridge is closed. It will be obvious that the connectorsbetween the draw -bridge rails and the track-rails need only be used atone end of said draw-bridge rails; but they may be used at both ends, ifdesired. v

It is obvious that when in this specification I refer to rails I mean toinclude likewise any other form of conductors for transmitting theelectric energy to the moving motor.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the railsor conductors carrying the electricenergy from the generator, a swinging draw-bridge or equivalent devicehaving rails or conductors upon it, and an electrical connection betweenthe two, con sisting of a platform attached to one and a roller attachedto the other, whereby the circuit is opened and closed as thedraw-bridge is operated.

2. The combination of the rails or conductors carrying the electricenergy, a draw-bridge or equivalent device carrying rails or conductors,and a platform attached to one and a spring-supported roller'attached tothe other, whereby good electrical contact is insured, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination, with the rails or conductors of an electric railway,of a draw-bridge or similar device carrying rails or conductors,

an independent conductor for completing the trically connected to therails upon'the draw- 10 circuit around the draw-bridge, andconnectbridge, adapted to complete the electric con-- 'ing devices forcompleting the circuit to the nection between the rails 13 B and D Dwhen the draw is closed, substantially as described.

LEO DAFT.

conductors 0n the bridge.

4. The combination, with rails or conductors D D and O O, of thepermanent connection E, platforms H, a draw-bridge, A, car rying rails BB, electrically connected to the rails D D, and spring-supported rollersF, elec- WVitnesses:

GEO. H. EVANS, 7M. POLLOGK.

